'Twas the night before Christmas, when all through Red Sox Nation,
We were waiting for results from J.D. Drew's eighth examination;
Our Red Stockings were hung in third place just last year,
And now the-next-big-thing pitcher must turn boos into cheers;

Mr. Boras was nestled all snug in his bed,
(He's still smarting from Theo going upside his head)
He was nervous about J.D. and his contractual flap;
But started dreaming of Drew in his new Red Sox cap ...

While back east at Fenway there arose such a clatter,
Boras sprang from his bed shouting: "Drew's your No. 5 batter!"
He tuned to NESN-HD, Sox press conference in a flash,
He saw Werner and Henry, he starting counting his cash;
Theo stood up to speak, the full Dr. Charles show,
This was J.D.'s big payday... (Boras still counting commission dough);

When, what to Scott's wondering eyes should appear
But the face of Trot Nixon, signed for $3 million, one year!
"Theo duped me again with a dirty dog trick!
He can't do this to ME! ...I think I'm going to be sick;"

More rapid than flying on John Henry's plane,
Boras hissed and he shouted, he then called them bad names:

"#%@! Epstein! #%@! Werner! #%@! Henry!, you too Nixon!
You'll rue this more than the day that you lost Johnny Damon!
No closer for you! I control them all!
You took my cash away! You'll dearly pay! Now dash away all!"

Players still flock to Boras, contract price will be high,
He plays games with the numbers, he still tells the big lie,
So it's back to the phones, 'cause he's gotta move Drew,
Plus a sleigh full of players who gotta eat too.

The new Japanese members of the "official" Sox Nation,
Will pay $200 to Lucchino's slick operation;
Just the price of "citizenship," there's no ticket at all,
Only a chance to buy a bleacher seat on top of the Wall

But then, down in Ft. Myers, he walked to the mound,
His new translator watched, not making a sound,
Laying his finger aside of the seam,
He stares just like Pedro, an impossible dream?

He spoke foreign words, and went straight to his work,
He went into his windup; then turned with a jerk,
As he threw out his hand, and was coming around,
Down toward home plate, the ball took off with a bound;

He pitched just like Petey, so lively and quick,
Hitters down in a moment, his balls miss their stick;
His heater’s mid-nineties, curve ball has big bite,
Let’s mark Dice-K down for a shutout Opening Night!

And there stood Curt Schilling, looking incredibly slim
Who knew CEO could find time for the gym?
Even Manny came early and was ready to play
But come back tomorrow, he'll want to get traded away;

With Crisp back in center, And Lugo at short,
They're fine up the middle, still need run support
And then just like before, David let the ball fly,
‘Tek threw out base stealers, even Youk crushed line drives,
Nixon had the old stroke back, when he hit ‘em they flew,
They all batted around, Pedroia too;

The crowd sprang to their feet, to the team gave a whistle,
Lowell circled the bases, Dice threw another missile;
Wild Card hopes had been fading for our retooled ballclub,

Exactly One Year Ago, The Makeshift Red Sox Front Office Played Scrooge with the Rock Solid Leadoff-Hitting Center Fielder Over $8m-$12m (Over Four Years) and Woke Up to Find Coal... Then Coco... in Their StockingThankfully Crisp, Mohr, Stern, Harris, Pena, and Murphy Picked Up the Slack

"GGL is bringing together two of my biggest passions -- baseball and video games -- in a way that neither baseball fans nor video gamers have seen before," said Commissioner Damon. "Both baseball and video games play a huge role in today's culture in the US and around the world, and the PBGL
is doing a great job of bringing these two communities together."

"More importantly, the PBGL is allowing me to invoke another passion of mine -- the Wounded Warrior Project, which raises funds and awareness for wounded veterans," continued Damon." As Commissioner, I'm proud to add former US Army Sergeant Steven Andrew Robison of Kansas City, Missouri, to this season's PBGL line-up."
-- 12.21.06, Johnny Damon

Ramirez to Remain in Left Field for Duration of ContractZero Tolerance on 'Manny Being Manny' Going Forward

As Ramirez Packs on the Pounds in Florida, Trump Decides at Last Minute Not to Send Him Packing

Manny Ramirez, a.k.a. Mr. USA, who had come under criticism amid rumors he had been frequenting fast food restaurants while he was supposed to be at the gym last month, will be allowed to keep his position on the Red Sox, Donald Trump announced today.

"He left a big condo in Boston and he was telling me that he got caught up in the whirlwind of Ft. Lauderdale," Trump said at a news conference. "It's a story that has happened many times before to many players and many men who came to the Red Sox. They wanted their bite of the Big Mac and they found out it wasn't so easy to stay in shape."

"I've always been a believer in second chances," Trump said, standing at a podium in the atrium of Trump Tower on Fifth Avenue. "Manny is a good person, but Manny hasn't played hard. However, Manny is going to be given a second chance."

Ramirez looked chastened and grateful and hungry as Trump called him a man who'd "made some very very bad choices, especially last September when he chose to sit out, some very foolish choices."

Ramirez won the World Series MVP title and became a United States citizen in 2004 and has been living in Florida, hiding from Joe Kerrigan. Recent media accounts of heavy eating at Mickey D's brought a storm of criticism since he was already overweight at the time. Manny weighed 251 lbs. on Monday.

In a tear-choked voice, Manny said, "In no way did I think it would be possible for a second helping to be refused by me." Turning to Trump, he said, "You'll never know what this means to me, and I swear I will not let you down."

Trump said Manny would be entering fast-food rehab. A Red Sox nutrition official said details would be worked out privately with Manny over the next weeks.

"I think Manny is going to be the great comeback kid," Trump said after making it clear he would no longer tolerate any 'Manny Being Manny' episodes for the next two years.

If Manny had been dethroned, his position would have been taken over by left field runner-up Mr. Pawtucket, David Murphy.

The Boston Men's Baseball League played the 6th Annual Winterball Extravaganza on Saturday Dec. 2. The doubleheader was played at Boston English High School in 45 degree cold. All participants had to donate a toy to Toys for Toys in order to participate. 57 players from across the league's three age divisions played. An entire truckload of donated toys was filled, as the event went off flawlessly.

Game 1 began at 10:30 AM and was won 5-1 by the MABL (the young guys). Game 2 began immediately afterwards and the MABL was leading 4-3 going into the eight inning. The MSBL tied the score 4-4 and stranded to bases loaded to close the 8th inning. The game ended in a tie due to darkness at the conclusion of the inning.

Two members of the United States Marine Corps stationed out of Ft. Devens came down to collect all the toys. Thanks to John "Smokey" Moore of the Winthrop Black Sox for securing the Toys for Tots pick up and for Charity Hop for coordinating all the details. Additionally, Boston Police Captain Kelley McCormick and also a player for the Somerville Senators were on hand to ensure everything went smoothly.

Derek and Burke to Determine If J.D.'s Body Can Withstand Another Grueling 45 Minute Physical

Will Boras Have to Drop the Price on a Broken-Down Drew?

"J.D. Drew was scheduled to receive a second opinion Monday on a shoulder issue the Red Sox have concerns about, according to a major league source familiar with Drew's condition.

"The red flag went up after the Sox right-fielder underwent a physical in Boston last week and the reason the 5-year, $70 million deal struck at baseball's winter meetings nearly two weeks ago has not be finalized."-- 12.17.06, Nick Cafardo, Globe Staff

" 'They're a great bunch of guys,' said the coach, choking back tears when asked about his seniors. 'The big thing about our guys -- they compete to the bitter end. I've got great people. I wouldn't trade any of them. We came in here as a team. We're going home as a team.' "

"This would be a time for the students and alums of the University of Massachusetts to stand tall. Go to an alumni club meeting. Reminisce about the good old days at the Blue Wall. Buy a little UMass garb and wear it when you go Christmas shopping. Brag about your school at the office. Send along a little donation, maybe."-- 11.16.06, Dan Shaughnessy, Boston Globe

"When Daisuke Matsuzaka was asked about joining the greatest rivalry in sports on Thursday, his answer via Mr. Sato was, "Not even the game between Yankees and Red Sox in Japan maybe Giants and Tigers."

"We'd love to share his pearls of wisdom, his hopes and dreams, his musings on Curt Schilling, Red Sox Nation, and Boston traffic, but alas these matters will take time. Matsuzaka was accompanied by an interpreter, but clearly most of his comments were lost in translation.

"Consider this sampling:

"Q: I'd like to get your impression of Fenway Park, after pitching off the mound, your initial impression of the park.

"During a 45-minute news conference, Matsuzaka smiled and laughed a lot. But Japanese reporters said Tak Sato, Matsuzaka’s translator, did not fully translate Matsuzaka’s responses, so the pitcher’s personality was mostly disguised from American reporters. A Japanese reporter provided a full translation and the words proved that Matsuzaka was poised and had a swagger, which is the scouting report for him on the mound, too."-- 12.15.06, Jack Curry, New York Times

"Matsuzaka’s interpreter’s command of the English language was shaky, and thus the pitcher’s translated comments were brief and, occasionally, unintelligible. About the only clear statement related by the interpreter was when Matsuzaka said, “I’m very happy and excited to be a member of the Boston Red Sox.”-- 12.15.06, Art Martone, Providence Journal

"Matsuzaka will get a massage therapist, physical therapist, interpreter and personal assistant, and the Red Sox agreed to provide the pitcher with 80-90 flights over the course of the deal, along with special housing and transportation arrangements and accomodations for his wife."-- 12.14.06, ESPN.com

"If they were fleeced by Scott Boras in giving J.D. Drew a five-year, $70 million deal with no other teams bidding, the Red Sox have evened the score with Daisuke Matsuzaka."-- 12.14.06, Nick Cafardo, Boston Globe

"Boras argued that the posting price was part of the negotiations and therefore Matsuzaka should get more in his contract, but it didn't work. Seibu's fiscal problems demanded immediate cash; the Japanese team could hold Matsuzaka to a minimal contract if he didn't go to the Red Sox and provide the $51.1M -- and it could send him to the minors for a couple of weeks and make him wait until after the 2008 season to be a free agent."-- 12.13.06, Peter Gammons, ESPN.com Insider Blog (subscription)

Valentine Has His Say

"The danger that Matsuzaka faces, that if catcher Jason Varitek sees he throws the ball 95 mph, then he'll [Varitek] think we have to keep throwing this fastball until we're ahead in the count and then we'll throw a breaking ball; or if we're behind the count, we have to throw a fastball because of his 95 mph speed...if he(Daisuke) falls into the trap of following a catcher that doesn't call his strengths, I think he can fall into trouble...

"The Red Sox have to realize that he can throw it 95, but he doesn't have to because he has these other pitches that he can throw over any time in the count which makes him special, but if the Red Sox try to make him ordinary and eliminate pitches; throw just three pitches; throw your fastball when you're behind in the count and pitch outside; this 'American-menatlity' of machoism...he can fall into a deep hole...." -- 12.14.06, Bobby Valentine, Baseball This Morning, XM Radio 175

"The word here in Japan is that Matsuzaka would find it rather difficult coming back to Japan should the Red Sox fail to sign him. He said his farewells to his fans, and they sent him off with their blessings. After the Red Sox bid of $51.1 million, he would look even more foolish should he fail to come to terms, particularly when it appears the Red Sox are offering him more money than proven Japanese major leaguers -- Matsui and Ichiro. Can't guarantee he won't come back, but in the minds of many here, there is more pressure for him to sign."-- 12.13.06, Mark Caprio quote from Bob Ryan column

"One of my best baseball sources says the Red Sox have made the most impressive pitch to Clemens, offering him the opportunity to have a contract much like the one the Astros gave him. He'll be able to pitch, work out on his own, attend family functions and arrive late to the roster. One difference: Rather than a half-season, Roger will pitch for slightly more — close to two-thirds of the season.

"The point is, ladies and gentlemen of Japan, that: Greed, for lack of a better word, is good. Greed is right; greed works. Greed clarifies, cuts through, and captures the essence of the evolutionary spirit. Greed, in all of its forms, greed for life, for money, for love, knowledge — has marked the upward surge of mankind and greed, you mark my words — will save not only the Red Sox but that other malfunctioning corporation called Major League Baseball."

"And you'd have to wonder: For Scott Boras, when does this stop becoming a chase of dollars and start being about his clients' doing what they love in their work and playing baseball?...

"Boras is extraordinary at what he does, at extracting a volume of dollars from places that you never would've imagined. He is like a chess master, and every negotiation is a match to be won. But in this era, when players are now making more money than they can ever spend in their lifetimes, it's debatable whether the extra cash actually improves the quality of life of his players, and whether all this angst pays off, in the big picture." -- 12.12.06, Buster Olney, ESPN

"Doesn't he [Matsuzaka] want to be a big league ballplayer first and PROVE he's worth $100 million? Or does he just want a team to hand him the money before he proves anything?

"I'm not sure the latter is honorable in any country.

"If Larry Lucchino, Theo Epstein, and/or John Henry come close to that number (I'm talking about a six-year, $100 million contract, not counting the $51.1 million posting fee) they should have their franchise revoked."-- 12.12.06, Boston Globe, Nick Cafardo Web Exclusive

" 'It's highly unusual,' Epstein said of submitting a second offer without receiving a response to the first, 'but it's showing that Matsuzaka is extremely important to the Boston Red Sox. It's normally not a good ploy, but we want to demonstrate to Matsuzaka, and the fans of Japanese baseball, just how important he is to us.' "-- 12.11.06, Gordon Edes, Boston Globe

"Boras had pledged late last week that the Sox would hear directly from Matsuzaka, who flew in from Tokyo on Saturday, but there was no public indication that has yet to happen. Indeed, frustrated Sox officials were privately wondering whether the player was aware that Boras so far had not made a counter-offer."-- 12.11.06, Gordon Edes, Boston Globe

Deion Branch is Playing the Role of Johnny DamonRodney Harrison Stars and Sits as Trot NixonChad Jackson is The Fall Season's Coco CrispTom Brady's Starting to Sound a Lot Like Josh BeckettRichard Seymour's Results Remind Us of Jason Varitek'sLight, Neal, Mankins, Kazcur, and Koppen Are Giving It Up Like Seanez, Hansen, DiNardo, Foulke, and Van BurenDynasty Builder Scott Pioli is the New Theo Epstein

"As the score mounted, so did the fury of Miami's pass rush and New England had no weapons to counter it. When your tight end is your deep threat, you have serious problems."-- 12.11.06, Ron Borges, Boston Globe

"We were scared to death preparing for this football game. We just found a way. We're not artistic. We just found a way to win. It wasn't pretty, but we found a way to get it done. That's what you do in this tournament. You survive and advance." -- 12.8.06, UMass coach Don Brown

Baylark Was Too Much to Bear for Grizzlies

(AP Photo)

"I hurt a muscle in my back. I didn't think I was going to finish the game. But I put my heart in it." -- 12.8.06, Steve Baylark, 169 yards rushing, 76 in receiving

Will Theo Bow Down to Boras on Dice-KAnd Throw Money Away on Eric Gagne?

"As Daisuke Matsuzaka prepared to fly from Tokyo for an arrival in Los Angeles tomorrow for the final phase of negotiations with the Red Sox, he may not have been aware that interest in his fate extends to the far reaches of the universe.

"That's not propaganda by either agent or ball club, whose posturing in the last days before the Dec. 14 deadline to sign Matsuzaka will make rich headline material in both Japan and Red Sox Nation. It is the observation of Seth Borenstein, a science writer from the Associated Press and Sox fan who yesterday passed on word that before astronaut Sunita 'Sunny' Williams boarded the space shuttle Discovery, the Needham native jumped in front of a TV camera and held up a "GO RED SOX" sign, which she planned to take with her on a scheduled six-month trip into space."-- 12.8.06, Gordon Edes, Boston Globe

"According to sources with direct access to the Sox' view, there is an increasing feeling that Boras is setting the stage, both privately and publicly, that there is not going to be a deal. 'Unless he's being less than honest,' one source said, 'there isn't going to be a deal.' "-- 12.7.06, Gordon Edes, Boston Globe

"With J.D. Drew, the Red Sox brass are citing all kinds of statistics, including his great on-base percentage and spinning the deal for their fans. But look at all the stats you want, I still think it's more important to look closely at the man. J.D. Drew is a nice player, but he's also a guy who has averaged just 118 games a year. Unless you're David Ortiz, it's also not easy being a left-handed power hitter at Fenway Park. And Drew is not the kind of southpaw swinger who is going to be peppering shots off the left-field wall...

"I'll say one thing. Scott Boras is a terrific agent who sells his players well and apparently Boston bought into it. To be honest about it, I think they should have simply re-signed Trot Nixon. I'm not saying that Drew is a bad sign, I'm simply saying I wouldn't have given him all that money. He's also a very selective hitter who will have to expand the zone in run-producing situations. In other words, he can't always take ball four on a pitch that's maybe an inch or two off the plate...

"Lugo is a guy who came to the Dodgers from Tampa Bay last year and I didn't see him hit the warning track once at Dodger Stadium. In fact, I didn't see the player people told me he was at Tampa Bay." -- 12.6.06, Kevin Kennedy, FoxSports.com

"My expectation from the beginning was that I would be at spring training next season at some point. Everything is good, and ready to go. I'm looking to be there at the reporting date." -- 12.05.06, Red Sox lefty Jon Lester

"The Red Sox are a better team with Ramirez than they are without him, and everybody knows it. There really is no way around that. Unless the Red Sox can swap Ramirez for Albert Pujols or, say, Alex Rodriguez - ever heard that one before? - they aren’t going to get 'fair value' for someone who piles up RBI as if he were putting M&Ms in a fruit bowl." -- 12.5.06, Tony Massarotti, Boston Herald

"No, the reason for his trade demand was, like the man himself, pretty simple. He just hates you, the paying customer and unwavering supporter of the Sox. He hates that you’re always there, always yelling and cheering and fawning all over him. He hates your very nature - your devotion, your intensity, your insatiable appetite for all things Red Sox. Hell, you could say he hates you for loving him so much.

"...but the chances for a [Manny to LA] deal now seem remote. The Red Sox told the Angels that closer Francisco Rodriguez or setup man Scot Shields would have to head any package for Ramirez. It's possible Boston would accept a package led by one of the Angels' two young starting pitchers, Ervin Santana or Jered Weaver...

"Talks between the Red Sox and Dodgers cooled because Dodgers General Manager Ned Colletti considers Epstein's demands exorbitant. Boston wants three of the top six Dodgers prospects, including outfielder Matt Kemp and potential closer Jonathan Broxton. The names of James Loney, Andy LaRoche, Chad Billingsley and Scott Elbert also came up." -- 12.5.06, Mike DiGiovanna, LA Times

" 'Events like this are kind of at the heart of what we do, taking it to really a grassroots level,' Schilling said. 'The great thing about the Mass chapter is that there are a lot of people in this program ... that don't have someone in their family with ALS.' " -- 12.3.06, Alan Ginsberg, MLB.com

"When I heard that the Red Sox might be bringing Trot Nixon back, it restored my faith in the front office.... he's gritty, he's a dirt dog, he would play with a broken leg... he's been great in right field." -- Linda, caller to WEEI's Dale & Holley, 12.1.06

It Will Be Perfectly Clear by Midnight

(Boston Globe Staff Photo / Jim Davis)

The Smoking Gun: If Theo Offers Nixon Arbitration,It Spells the End of Manny in Boston

Homeward Bound? Trot Could Be Up to Some Old Tricks in '07

"A possible scenario: Nixon will share time with Wily Mo Peña in a newly realigned outfield that manager Terry Francona could play in a variety of permutations: The soon-to-be-added J.D. Drew could play right field or center, if Francona chooses to move Coco Crisp to left, which is what Cleveland did in 2005, or Crisp could remain in center with Drew and Nixon/Peña flanking him.

The “Curt’s Pitch
for ALS” program is a joint effort by Curt and Shonda Schilling and The
ALS Association Mass Chapter to strike out Amyotrophic Lateral
Sclerosis, more commonly known as Lou Gehrig’s Disease.

For the fourth consecutive year, SHADE Foundation of America will be represented at the Boston Marathon by a team raising funds for SHADE. SHADE is currently seeking marathon runners to join the team . For more information on running with Shonda Schilling on SHADE’s team or sponsoring runners, please visit SHADE's marathon page here.The SHADE Foundation thanks Red Sox Nation for joining in their fight to save future generations from melanoma.